Windows 7 update install time taking a very long time

Anonymous
2010-11-23T05:04:32+00:00

Well I have a Windows 7 OS, and I shut down my laptop yesterday but then it automatically went in sleep mode as I slept. As I awoken it in the morning I see its at installing updates 32 of 45. Though I see the same thing in the night with no change.  I also see my hard-drive light flashing like it normally does when it's doing something but is this normal and if not what can I do? Also this computer is only 3 days old, and I have not made a recovery media due to lack of media I can use to use for the back up.

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Windows update

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Anonymous
2010-11-24T04:01:53+00:00

Hi ChaosDragon92,

You may restart your computer, then use the below steps and check if this helps resolve the issues-

Method 1: You may use the windows update troubleshooter and check if it lists and resolves any issues -

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Open-the-Windows-Update-troubleshooter


Method 2: Also I would suggest you to check in the update history if you are getting any error codes for the failed updates. If you get any errors, do provide us the same to assist you better. To check the recent updates installed on your computer.

View updates history -

a. Click Start, Settings and then control panel (all items view). Click on the Windows Update icon.

b. Click on view update history link.

c. To view the details of a single update select and right click on a listed windows update, then click on view details. Click Close when done.

You may also refer to the below link for additional assistance and check if these assist you-

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/Troubleshoot-problems-with-installing-updates

Method 3: **** Use the system update readiness tool –

Download the System Readiness Tool.The System Update Readiness Tool checks your computer and tries to resolve certain conditions that could interfere with the installation of updates or other software.Here is a link to download System Readiness Tool; you may do it according to the exact configuration of the computer:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/947821

****After you download and then run the System Update Readiness Tool, restart your computer. Then check if you are able to install the updates properly.

Hope this helps.

Thanks,

Meghmala – Microsoft Support

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  1. Anonymous
    2016-05-15T16:39:49+00:00

    I have a new fix that I've successful tested on two machines. I'll post it later today. thanks

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  2. Anonymous
    2016-05-15T04:17:53+00:00

    Yeah, the long updates have been going on since vista.  It just gets worse and worse every day.

    I just installed win7 on my new skylake system and that alone was a nightmare to accomplish.  I needed the win7 install CD and a second DVD to burn some drivers I needed.  mainly lan drivers to get online, but usb drivers as well, plus nvme if you need those.

    But after getting it finally installed after wasting the whole day, I've now been waiting over 2 hours to just check for updates.  I haven't even started installing anything yet.  I do know to not install them all at once.  

    I usually start with internet explorer 11 or whatever the nest one is and then reboot and install the non-windows important/recommended updates.  When I finish those then I do the larger ones first.  over 10mb, then reboot and do half the rest and reboot and the last half.  reboot and check again and finish all of the other misc updates.  

    Recently I found Win Toolkit from wincert dot net.  It is awesome.  You can load updates of all types, manually load driver, as we ****, driver packs, even download the official win7 iso files.  It is awesome and has saved me a lot of over the past year.  You'll need a USB 8GB min, as just win updates, my iso was 6.5gb.  DVD is only 4GB, so it won't fit.  Must format in ntfs as well, fat32 only can make a single 4.0GB file and win7 wim file is 6ish gb.

    I've yet to put all the updates and driver packs and thing as I was so happy to just have all updates since mid-last year.  Unfortunately skylake is giving me grief and I was forced to use DVD I burned a long time ago.  It least it was a sp1 version.

    You can check youtube for videos for setup and configuration.  I found it while trying to setup nlite and seen this was a lot more automated.  Has worked fine so far.

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  3. Anonymous
    2016-05-12T04:32:06+00:00

    not sure if this would help anyone but I spent many hours on this and the only thing that ended up resolving my issues is using Portable Update. It showed me a few things that I had to update. I recall they were related to the windows update client or something along those lines. In the end after running that tool it updated a few things and then my updates prompted me out of no where and started working again :) CPU is now back to normal and I'm mostly up to date on patches.

    I plan to donate to the guy that wrote it since it helped me out big time. Good luck

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  4. Anonymous
    2016-05-08T12:59:09+00:00

    Why bother with windows 10?

    It is well documented how w10 collects information about you and reports that data back to m$ and it's partners. Do you mind sharing personal info? Do you want more spam? Do you like popup ads?

    It you must use w10, do a clean boot, wipe the drive, then install shutup10 to minimize the spying.

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